Tape dispenser



I. J. GERSHEN TAPE DISPENSER May 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7; 1958 N. WM H N my R wC/ m 5 E M 2 T W m fiwm m E a a E E 5 4 m M w 4 y 5, 1962 l. J. GERSHEN 3,034,691

TAPE DISPENSER Filed July 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,034,691 TAPE DHSPENSER Irvin J. Gershen, @pringfield, Nil assignor, by mesne assignments, to Johnson 8: Johnson, New Brunswick, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 7, 1958, Ser. No. 747,076 8 Claims. (Cl. 225-25) The present invention relates to dispensers for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, more particularly to hand dispensers for enclosing a roll of such tape and dispensing it from the roll.

Hand dispensers for quick sticking pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, such as cellophane tape, conventionally have been in the form of an open dispenser body having hub means at the rear for supporting a tape roll and a tape severing platform spaced from the roll at the front of the dispenser. The side walls of the dispenser between the roll and the platform are cut or recessed to provide access to the tape so that the end of the tape attached to the roll can be picked up, drawn out past the tape severing platform and then down over the platform to sever the desired length of tape. In dispensers of this type, the tape cutter and the tape, itself, are exposed in such a way that the dispensers are not suitable for carrying in the pocket or in miladys purse.

The present invention contemplates a simple hand dispenser for tape which not only is capable of enclosing or at least encompasisng a tape roll but also incorporates a retractable tape dispensing platform which may be extended to provide access to the tape and to dispense a desired length and retracted to provide a container for the tape roll which may be carried in the pocket or in a purse for use when the occasion demands; the tape dispensing platform having tape severing means associated therewith for severing the desired length of tape from the roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a dispenser which comprises a tape dispensing bridge having a tape dispensing platform at one end and which is mounted on its other end in the walls of the dispenser for movement of the platform towards and away from the tape roll, the bridge having a closed position at the limit of its travel in the direction of the tape roll and an open position in the limit of its travel in the opposite direction away from the tape roll, and the platform being so disposed that in the open position of the bridge ready access is provided to the tape end adhered to the platform.

Still another object is to provide a dispenser in accordance with the foregoing object having means for assuring that the end of the tape attached to the roll remains adhered to the tape dispensing platform during periods when the dispenser is not in use and when the bridge is opened following such a period to provide ready access to the end of the tape for dispensing purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a dispenser wherein means is provided to support the tape dispensing platform in a fixed position in the open position of the bridge in such a way that tape may be dispensed by drawing the end of the tape attached to the roll down over the platform in a tearing operation.

A still further object is to provide a dispenser of this type wherein means is provided for cooperating with the bridge and the tape dispensing platform, in the closed position of the bridge, for holding the tape While tearing a length drawn out beyond the tape dispensing platform against the tape severing means when the bridge is held in its closed position.

Another object is to provide a dispenser according to this invention which may be fabricated from inexpensive molded plastic parts which may be assembled and disifliifi i Fatented May 15, 1962 u 'i liiQQ assembled merely by pressing them together and pulling them apart.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a dispenser according to one embodiment of this invention with the tape dispensing bridge shown in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view in perspective of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the tape dispensing bridge in its open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partially broken away, of the dispenser of the preceding figures showing the tape in contact with the tape dispensing platform and the tape severing means in the open position of the bridge;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the bridge closed;

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view along the line 5-5 FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat reduced side view of one-half of the dispenser of the preceding figures, taken from the inside;

FIG. 7 is a similar view of the other half of the dispenser, also taken from the inside;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 5 showing the assembly of corresponding portions of the two dispenser halves;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4 showing the assembly of the parts in another area of the dispenser;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the dispenser of the preceding figures showing the tape being pulled out as the bridge is opened;

FIG. =11 is a similar schematic view showing the free end of the tape being drawn down over the tape severing platform for severing a length of tape in the open position of the bridge; and

FIG. 12 is another schematic View showing a length of tape being severed with the bridge closed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a flat hand dispenser 15 for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape having opposed side walls 16 and 17 spaced to accommodate a flat cylindrical roll 18 of tape. The tape is wound upon a hollow cylindrical spool 19 which, in turn, is mounted on hub means in the form of opposed annular flanges 21 and 22. extending inwardly from each of the side walls adjacent the center of the dispenser. The spool 19 is mounted for rotation on the annular flanges 21 and 22 to facilitate unwinding tape from the roll by drawing on the free end 23' attached to the roll, and the side walls 16 and 17 are spaced by an amount slightly greater than the width of the tape, itself, so as to position the tape roll 18 and retain it on the inwardly extending annular flanges.

The peripheral edges of the side walls extend radially beyond the periphery of the tape roll and are connected by a peripheral wall 25 extending around the circumferenee of the dispenser to provide an enclosure for the roll 18. The peripheral wall 25 is interrupted, however, for a portion of the circumference of the dispenser to define with the side walls a peripheral opening 26 for drawing tape from the dispenser. A tape dispensing bridge 27 is provided for dispensing tape and closing the peripheral opening 26. A tape dispensing platform 28 is located at the front end of the bridge 27 and the rear end 29 of the bridge is mounted at the bottom of the opening 26 for pivotal movement of the front end 31 of the bridge and the tape dispensing platform toward and away from the top end of the opening. The rear end of the bridge 27 is pivotally mounted between the sides of the dispenser on studs 32 extending outwardly from the rear end of the 3 bridge into corresponding holes 33 located opposite one another in the sides of the dispenser. The studs 32 are fixed to the bridge and are free to rotate in the holes.

Pivotal movement of the bridge 27 is illustrated in the comparison between FIGS. 1 and 4, on the one hand, and 2 and 3 on the other. The bridge is shown in its closed position in FIGS. 1 and 4 and, after moving in the direction of the downwardly extending arrows in FIGS. 1 and 3, in its open position in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bridge is held in its open position by stop means in the form of abutting flanges 34a and 3412 which extend inwardly from opposite sides of the dispenser to form a shelf 34 below the studs 32. The shelf 34 actually defines one end of the peripheral opening as well as acting as a support for the bridge in its open position. The bridge 27, in its closed position, is associated with cooperating means at the top end of the peripheral opening 26. These means include an outwardly extending lip or rest 35 which defines the upper end of the opening and a bar 36 spaced longitudinally in the opening from the rest and extending from one Side of the opening to the other, to define with the rest a slot 37 extending across the opening. The bar 36, like the shelf at the bottom of the opening, consists of mating parts 36a and 36b extending from opposite sides of the dispenser.

Tape severing means 38 in the form of a row of teeth 39 or serrations is located at the front end of the tape dispensing platform 28. The teeth 39 extend across the platform in a row which preferably is wider than the tape itself so that the ends of the row extend beyond the longitudinal edges of the tape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the teeth 39 are pointed and inclined downwardly from front to back. The rear of the tape dispensing platform is in the form of a shoulder 41 which is raised above the front of the platform 28 and the tape severing means as well as above the adjacent portion of the bridge extending rear- 'wardly from the platform. The top of the shoulder is inclined downwardly from back to front towards the teeth of the tape severing means. In the closed position of the bridge 27, the shoulder 41 nests in the slot 37 so that the rest 35 contacts the back of the tape just forward of the shoulder 41 and presses the tape downwardly into con.- tact with the front of the tape dispensing platform just rearwardly of the tape severing means 38, and the bar 36 fits down behind the rear of the shoulder 41, pressing the tape into contact with the adjacent portion of the bridge to the rear of the platform 28.

The body 42 of the bridge or that portion of the bridge extending rearwardly of the tape dispensing platform comprises a bottom plate 43 and three longitudinal girders 44. One of the girders 44 is located at each longitudinal edge of the bridge and one is centrally located between its edges. The girders 44 extend from the platform 28 to the rear end 29 of the bridge. At the rear end of the bridge the girders 44 and the plate 43 are curved and extend upwardly to provide a portion 45 which is raised above the body 42 of the bridge. The studs 32 are located in this raised portion 45 and the curved end of the plate 43 assists in seating the bridge on the shelf 34' at the bottom of the opening in the open position of the bridge. It will be seen that the body 42 of the bridge is recessed below the rear end of the tape dispensing platform 28 and the rear end 29 of the bridge 27 between the platform and the rear end of the bridge, thereby allowing tape stretched across the bridge to be picked up for handling. A transverse recess 46 is provided in the bridge directly under the shoulder 41 forming the rear end of the tape dispensing platform to assist in picking up the end of the bridge and to save material.

The bridge 27 is cantilever in construction due to the arrangement of the bottom plate 43 and the three longitudinal girders 44-, just described, so that it is fully capable of resisting tearing forces exerted downwardly on the tape dispensing platform 28 in the open position of the bridge even though it is supported only adjacent its rear end 29 by the studs 32 and the shelf 34. Thus, the bridge 27 is unitary in that no additional supporting means is necessary, and the bottom plate 43, alone, forms the bottom of the bridge so that when the bridge is closed this plate acts as a smooth extension of the peripheral wall 25, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, thereby providing a dispenser which is suitable for carrying in the pocket or in miladys purse.

In operation, the end of the tape is drawn out and over the tape dispensing platform 28 until the length desired to be dispensed extends beyond the teeth of the tape severing means 38. Then the tape may be severed in either of two ways. For continued dispensing of successive pieces of tape, it is preferable that the free end of the tape be torn by pulling it down over the teeth 39 of the tape severing means 38 with the bridge 27 in its open position, as shown in FIG. 3, and schematically in FIG. 11. For repeated use, one finger may be held against the side of the bridge 27 to prevent it from moving upwardly when the tape remaining attached to the roll is lifted from the platform 28 in order to draw out a new length of tape. During this operation the pivotal mounting of the bridge 27, i.e., the holes 33 in the side walls 16 and 17 of the dispenser and the studs 32 at the rear of the bridge which fit into them, cooperate with the shelf 34 to support the cantilever bridge in its open position against the downward tearing forces exerted on the platform 28 without the need for any additional support from the fingers holding the dispenser or from any other means. If only one piece of tape is needed, the bridge 27 may be closed after the desired length is drawn out beyond the tape dispensing platform 28, and held closed as shown in FIG. 12 so that the tape may be torn against the teeth of the tape severing means 38, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, to sever the desired length from the roll.

After severance of a desired length of tape, the remaining end 23 of the tape attached to the roll remains adhered to the tape dispensing platform 28. When the tape is severed with the bridge 27 in open position, the remaining end of the tape is adhered mainly to the top of the raised shoulder 41 of the tape dispensing platform 28. When the bridge is closed after the tape has been dispensed in this manner, the rest 35 and the bar 36 at the top end of the opening cooperate with the tape dispensing platform for seating the tape firmly on the platform. As the platform 28 is moved toward the rest and the bar, the back of the tape between the tape severing teeth 39 and the raised shoulder 41 comes into contact with the rest 35 and is pressed by the rest downwardly towards the teeth and into contact with the inclined top surface of the shoulder 41 at the rear of the platform. During this same motion, the bar 36 contacts the back of the tape just rearwardly of the shoulder 41 and depresses it below the shoulder. This combined action of the rest 35 and the bar 36 tends to stretch the tape down over the top surface of the shoulder 41 to provide firm adherence between the tape and the shoulder. Of course, when the tape is severed with the bridge 27 in its closed position, the tape rearwardly of the tape severing teeth is seated, as described above, before the desired length of tape is severed from the roll.

As shown in FIG. 4, preferably, the rest 35 and the bar 36 are so positioned and designed that when the bridge 27 is closed tightly, the rest 35 presses the tape into contact with the tape dispensing platform 28 just rearwardly of the tape severing means 38 and the bar 36 presses the tape into contact with the longitudinal girders 44 of the bridge just rearwardly of the shoulder 41. Thus, when the platform 28 is held in engagement with the cooperating means with the tape between the platform and the cooperating means, the tape is gripped between the rest 35, the bar 36 and the raised shoulder 41 and thereby is held firmly in adhesive contact with the tape dispensing platform 28. In this position of the bridge 27, the dispenser is ready' for severing a desired length of tape and the remaining end of the tape is held in adhesive contact with the platform 28 during periods when the dispenser is not being used. As a result, when it is desired to use the dispenser, it only is necessary to swing the bridge 27 to its open position. This automatically pulls out the end of the tape attached to the roll 18. The roll itself is free to rotate if necessary in order to allow the tape to be pulled out as the bridge is opened.

The dispenser of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material such as plastic, a suitable metal, a combination of plastic and metal, or the like. Preferably, it is formed entirely from a resilient plastic material which may be injection molded into parts which may be snapped together or otherwise easily assembled. For instance, the dispenser shown in the drawings is injection molded from a plastic such as polystyrene in three parts, the bridge 27 itself, and the two dispenser halves A and B shown in FIGS. 6-9.

The bridge 27 is molded in the form shown in FIGS. 1-5 with the studs 32 protruding from one end of the bridge and a pair of small detent members 48 protruding from the sides of the bridge intermediate the tape dispensing platform 28 and the rear 29 of the bridge. The dispenser halves are the'same in general outline although the whole of the peripheral wall is molded integral with the one side wall 17. The rest at the top of the peripheral opening, being in the form of a continuation of the peripheral wall 25, also is molded integral with the side wall 17, while the shelf 34 at the bottom of the peripheral opening is split, with one-half 34a integral with the side wall 16 and the other half 34b integral with the opposite side wall 1'7. That part of the shelf 34 which is integral with the side wall 17 also is integral with the peripheral wall 25 at the bottom of the opening. As will be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the annular flanges 21 and 22, forming the hub means also are integral with their respective side walls 16 and 17. The bar 36 is split into two halves 36a and 36b, each of which is integral with one of the side walls, as is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9. The outside edge of the peripheral wall 25 is recessed slightly so as to form an annular step 49 extending around the periphery of the wall 25. This step 49 is designed to accommodate the opposite side wall 16. The opposite side wall 16, in turn, is relieved at three points spaced approximately 120 around its periphery to form recesses 51 for accommodating corresponding wedge shaped snap-on devices 52 spaced in the same manner around the periphery of the peripheral wall 25.

Thus, the two halves may be assembled merely by registering the recesses 51 in the side wall 1b with the wedge shaped devices 52 on the peripheral wall 25 and then pressing the two halves together so that a snap fit is provided between the Wedge shaped devices 52 and the side wall 16 at the recesses 51 and the side wall is seated in the annular step 49 in the peripheral wall, as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, a lug 53 is provided at the end of one-half 36b of the bar 36 for registering with a corresponding depression 54 in the end of the other half 36a of the bar to assure that the parts are properly assembled. Actually, in assembling the two halves A and B of the dispenser the bridge 27 first is placed in position in the opening 26 in the peripheral wall 25 with one of the studs 32 inserted in the corresponding hole 33 in one of the side walls, and then the other half of the dispenser is snapped into place with care being taken that the lug on the other side of the bridge registers with the corresponding hole in the opposite side wall. As shown in FIG. 9, the detent members 4% protruding from the side of the bridge 27 snap into corresponding recesses 55 located opposite one another in the side walls of the dispenser to hold the bridge in its closed position.

Having now described the invention in specific detail and exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that innumerable variations, applications, modifications, and extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

I claim:

1. A flat hand container dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which comprises opposed side walls spaced to accommodate a flat cylindrical roll of tape, hub means extending inwardly from at least one of said side wall for supporting the roll, the peripheral edges of said side walls extending radially beyond the periphery of the tape roll, a peripheral wall extending around the dispenser and connecting the side walls outside the periphery of the roll, said peripheral wall being interrupted to provide an opening for drawing tape from the dispenser, a cantilever tape dispensing bridge across said opening, a tape dispensing platform at the front end of said bridge, the rear end of said bridge being mounted at one end of said opening for movement of the front end of said bridge and the tape dispensing platform toward and away from the opposite end of the opening, tape severing means at the front end of said tape dispensing platform, stop means at the first-mentioned end of said opening for contacting the rear end of the bridge for arresting the movement of the bridge and the tape dispensing platform away from the opposite end of the opening and for supporting the bridge in its open position cantilever fashion only at the rear end of the bridge as the tape is drawn down over the tape severing means at the front end of the bridge for severing a length of tape from the tape roll, the remaining end of the tape attached to the roll adhering to the tape dispensing platform, and means at said opposite end of the opening for co-operating with said platform for seating the remaining end of the tape on the platform as the back of the tape drawn over the platform is moved into contact with said co-operating means and the bridge is moved into its closed position.

2. A container dispenser for tape according to claim 1 wherein the rear end of the bridge is pivotally mounted I in the side walls of said dispenser inside the opening and adjacent the first-mentioned end thereof, and the stop means also defines the first-mentioned end of the opening.

3. A hand dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which comprises opposed side walls spaced to accommodate a cylindrical roll of tape, hub means extending inwardly from at least one of said side walls for supporting the roll, a cantilever tape dispensing bridge mounted on said side walls outside the periphery of said roll, a tape dispensing platform at the front end of said bridge, the rear end of said bridge being pivotally mounted for movement of the front end of said bridge and the tape dispensing platform toward and away from the tape roll, tape severing means at the front end of said tape dispensing platform, stop means extending from at least one of said side walls adjacent the rear end of said bridge for contacting the rear end of the bridge for arresting the movement of the bridge and the tape dispensing platform away from the tape roll and for supporting the bridge in its open position cantilever fashion only at the rear end of the bridge as the tape is drawn down over the tape severing means at the front end of the bridge for severing a length of tape from the roll, the remaining end of the tape attached to the roll adhering to the tape dispensing platform, and means spaced from the rear end of the bridge for co-operating with said platform for seating the remaining end of the tape on the platform as the back of the tape drawn over the platform is moved into contact with said co-operating means and the bridge is moved into its closed position.

4. A dispenser for tape according to claim 3 wherein the rear of the tape dispensing platform and a portion of the bridge spaced rearwardly of the platform are raised above the body of the bridge between them so that tape stretched over the platform and said rearwardly spaced raised portion may be picked up by the fingers for handling.

5. A fiat hand container dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which comprises opposed side walls spaced to accommodate a flat cylindrical roll of tape, hub means extending inwardly from at least one of said side walls for supporting the roll, the peripheral edges of said side walls extending radially beyond the periphery of the tape roll, a peripheral wall extending around the dispenser and connecting the side walls outside the periphery of the roll, said peripheral wall being interrupted to provide an opening for drawing tape from the dispenser, a tape dispensing bridge across said opening, a tape dispensing platform at the front end of said bridge, the rear end of said bridge being mounted at one end of said opening for movement of the front end of said bridge and tape dispensing platform toward and away from the opposite end of the opening, tape severing means at the front end of said tape dispensing platform, stop means at the first-mentioned end of said opening for arresting the movement of the bridge and the tape dispensing platform away from the opposite end of the opening and for holding the bridge in open position as the tape is drawn down over the tape severing means for severing a length of tape from the tape roll, the remaining end of the tape attached to the roll adhering to the tape dispensing platform, a rest at said opposite end of the opening for contacting the back of the tape adjacent said tape severing means for pressing the tape into further contact with said platform as the bridge is moved into its closed position, and a bar spaced longitudinally of the opening from said rest for contacting the back of the tape rearwardly of said platform :and depressing it below the rear of the platform as the bridge is moved into its closed position, whereby the tape is urged into contact with the top surface of the rear of the platform.

6. A hand dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which comprises opposed side walls spaced to accommodate a cylindrical roll of tape, hub means extending inwardly from at least one of said side walls for supporting the roll, a tape dispensing bridge mounted on said side walls outside the periphery of said roll, a tape dispensing platform at the front end of said bridge, the rear end of said bridge being pivotally mounted for movement of the front end of said bridge and the tape dispensing platform toward and away from the tape roll, tape severing means at the front end of said tape dispensing platform, stop means extending from at least one of said side walls adjacent the rear end of said bridge for arresting the movement of the bridge and the tape dispensing platform away from the tape roll and for holding the bridge in open position as the tape is drawn down over the tape severing means for severing a length of tape from the roll, the remaining end of the tape attached to the roll 8 adhering to the tape dispensing platform, a rest secured to said side walls for contacting the tape adjacent said tape severing means for pressing the tape into further contact with said platform as the bridge is moved into its closed position, and a bar secured to said side walls and spaced longitudinally of the bridge from said rest when said bridge is in its closed position for contacting the tape rearwardly of said platform and depressing it below the rear of the platform as the bridge is moved into its closed position, whereby the tape is urged into contact with the top surface of the rear of said platform.

7. A dispenser for tape according to claim 6 wherein the rear of the platform is in the form of a raised shoulder and the top of the shoulder is inclined downwardly towards the tape severing means.

8. A hand dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which comprises opposed side walls spaced to accommodate a cylindrical roll of tape, hub means extending inwardly from at least one of said side Walls for supporting the roll, a tape dispensing bridge mounted on said side walls outside the periphery of said roll, a tape dispensing platform at the front end of said bridge, the rear end of said bridge being pivotally mounted for movement of the front end of said bridge and the tape dispensing platform toward and away from the tape roll, tape severing means at the front end of said tape dispensing platform, stop means extending from at least one of said side walls adjacent the rear end of said bridge for arresting the movement of the bridge and the tape dispensing platform away from the tape roll and for holding the bridge in open position as the tape is drawn down over the tape severing means for severing a length of tape from the roll, the remaining end of the tape attached to the roll adhering to the tape dispensing platform, means spaced from the rear end of the bridge for co-operating with said platform for seating the remaining end of the tape on the platform as the back of the tape drawn over the platform is moved into contact with said co-operating means and the bridge is moved into its closed position, said platform being in the form of a raised shoulder and said co-operating means including a slot, the shoulder nesting in the slot in the closed position of said bridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,322 Gall Sept. 30, 1952 2,678,777 Donkin May 18, 1954 2,776,095 Emmert Jan. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,699 Australia Mar. 4, 1955 548,094 Canada Oct. 29, 1957 

